Elma Vuko

Antiphytoviral activity of sesquiterpene-rich essential oils from four croatian teucrium species.

The purpose of this study was to compare the essential oil profiles of four Croatian Teucrium species (Lamiaceae), as determined by GC and GC/MS, with their antiphytoviral efficiency. A phytochemical analysis showed that T. polium, T. flavum, T. montanum and T. chamaedrys are characterized by similar essential oil compositions. The investigated oils are characterized by a high proportion of the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons β-caryophyllene (7.1–52.0%) and germacrene D (8.7–17.0%). Other important components were β-pinene from T. montanum and α-pinene from T. flavum. The investigated essential oils were proved to reduce lesion number in the local host Chenopodium quinoa Willd. infected with Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV), with reductions of 41.4%, 22.9%, 44.3% and 25.7%, respectively.

Antiphytoviral Activity of Satureja montana L. ssp. variegata (Host) P. W. Ball Essential Oil and Phenol Compounds on CMV and TMV

The essential oil of Satureja montana L. ssp. variegata (Host) P. W. Ball (Lamiaceae) was characterized by a high concentration of oxygenated monoterpenes (71.3%), among which carvacrol (19.4%) and thymol (16.6%) were the major compounds. When the essential oil was applied on local hosts Chenopodium amaranticolor Coste & Reyn. and Chenopodium quinoa Willd. simultaneously with the infecting virus, the number of local lesions on both Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) infected plants was reduced for 29.2% and 24.1%, respectively. When applied individually for each virus, thymol was more effective in reducing CMV infection (33.2%), while carvacrol was more effective in reducing the TMV infection (34.3%). No synergistic effect of both monoterpenes was observed in the antiviral activity of the oil.

Composition and antiviral activity of the essential oils of Eryngium alpinum and E. amethystinum.

The chemical compositions of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of Croatian Eryngium alpinum L. and E. amethystinum L. were characterized by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. The main components identified were the sesquiterpene β‐caryophyllene (19.7%) in the oil of E. amethystinum and the oxygenated sesquiterpene caryophyllene oxide (21.6%) in the oil of E. alpinum. Overall, 32 and 35 constituents were detected in the essential oils of the aerial parts of E. alpinum and E. amethystinum, respectively, representing 92.4 and 93.1% of the total oil compositions. The essential oils of both Eryngium species were proved to reduce the number of lesions in the local host Chenopodium quinoa infected with cucumber mosaic virus and an associated satellite. This is the first investigation of antiphytoviral activity of essential oils of Eryngium species.

Essential oil composition of Primula veris var. columnae

Primula veris L. (Primulaceae) is a widespread plant in the mountainous areas of Europe and Asia. The plant grows in warm, sunny, dry habitats, most frequently on meadows and pastures but also in open deciduous forests. It is a well-known medicinal plant with numerous biological effects [1, 2]. Roots, rhizomes, and flowers of this plant are rich in triterpene saponins, phenol glucosides, and flavonoids [3]. Existing literature data dealing with the essential oil composition within the genus Primula are very scarce [4]. Here we report on the chemical composition of the essential oil of P. veris L. var. columnae (Ten.) B. Bock. P. veris L. var. columnae was collected from wild-growing populations in Tijarica near Split (Croatia) in April 2011 (coordinates by Gauss-Krugereru: X = 5652700; Y = 4829894). Voucher specimens are deposited at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Split, Croatia [No. FNSST 2011:85]. Dried aerial parts of plant material (stems, leaves, and flowers) were subjected to hydrodistillation for 3 h in a Clavenger-type apparatus. GC analyses were performed on a gas chromatograph (model 3900; Varian Inc., Lake Forest, CA, USA) equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID) and mass spectrometer (MS) [5]. The individual peaks were identified by comparison of their retention indices, and/or authentic samples, as well as by comparing their mass spectra with literature data [6].

Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don - Essential Oil Composition and Activity on Tobacco Mosaic Virus Infection

Chemical composition and antiphytoviral activity of essential oil were investigated in the aerial parts of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don (Asteraceae) growing wild in Croatia. Thirty nine compounds, representing 91.1% of the total oil, were identified. GC-MS analyses of the oil revealed presence of α-pinene (30.1%), neryl acetate (17.2%), β-curcumene (10.3%), γ-curcumene (6.4%) and (E)-caryophyllene (4.9%) as the most abundant components. Local host plants treated with essential oil of H. italicum prior to inoculation of tobacco mosaic virus showed delay in the development and strong reduction of lesions in the early stage of infection.